Recent posts by Michael Dumas | mdumas@al.com - AL.comtag:profile.al.com,2015:msdumas/19852015-03-03T20:22:21ZMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advanceAs vote looms, should Baldwin County schools be using public funds in support of increased property taxes?tag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.153652152015-03-03T17:29:52Z2015-03-03T17:29:52ZThe arguments for and against increasing property taxes to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the Baldwin County school system are ramping up in advance of the March 31 referendum vote.msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
The arguments for and against increasing property taxes to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the Baldwin County school system are ramping up in advance of the March 31 referendum vote.
Updated: Satsuma schools to close Tuesday, Wednesday due to virus that has made more than 100 students, teachers sicktag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.153597802015-03-02T22:16:30Z2015-03-02T22:16:30ZThe elementary and high schools in Satsuma will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday after an aggressive stomach virus made more than 100 students and some teachers and other staff members sick, according to Superintendent Joe Walters.msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
The elementary and high schools in Satsuma will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday after an aggressive stomach virus made more than 100 students and some teachers and other staff members sick, according to Superintendent Joe Walters.
Elberta Elementary gun incident aftermath: Baldwin County school officials defend almost hour-long delay in notifying parentstag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.153374682015-02-27T23:46:00Z2015-02-27T23:46:00ZOn Friday, officials with the Baldwin County school system defended the decision to wait nearly an hour before alerting Elberta Elementary School parents that a possible shooting had taken place on campus. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
On Friday, officials with the Baldwin County school system defended the decision to wait nearly an hour before alerting Elberta Elementary School parents that a possible shooting had taken place on campus.
Shots may have been fired at Elberta Elementary after all, and one armed parent had to be detained, according to investigatorstag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.153373172015-02-27T23:33:11Z2015-02-27T23:33:11ZIt has not been ruled out that Barbara Grice fired the gun she brought to Elberta Elementary School on Wednesday, and one armed parent had to be stopped from entering the school once the incident was made known, law enforcement officials said Friday. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
It has not been ruled out that Barbara Grice fired the gun she brought to Elberta Elementary School on Wednesday, and one armed parent had to be stopped from entering the school once the incident was made known, law enforcement officials said Friday.
Mobile County students to get full weeks off for Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras as school system approves 2015-2016 calendartag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.153014552015-02-24T16:50:37Z2015-02-24T16:50:37ZMobile County public school students will once again get a week off for Thanksgiving and Mardi Gras, although spring break will be a week later, according to the 2015-2016 schedule approved Monday night. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
Mobile County public school students will once again get a week off for Thanksgiving and Mardi Gras, although spring break will be a week later, according to the 2015-2016 schedule approved Monday night.
Blakely Bacque thinks the craziness of Eastern Shore Mardi Gras goes down better with a chocolate milkshaketag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.152340422015-02-17T01:40:24Z2015-02-17T01:40:24ZThroughout the 2015 Carnival season, Faces of Mardi Gras will introduce readers to a Mobile area reveler. Below is a face from the Order of Mystic Magnolias parade, held Feb. 16 in downtown Fairhope. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
Throughout the 2015 Carnival season, Faces of Mardi Gras will introduce readers to a Mobile area reveler. Below is a face from the Order of Mystic Magnolias parade, held Feb. 16 in downtown Fairhope.
The Order of Mystic Magnolias put its kite in the whistling wind and it sounded like Elvistag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.152340072015-02-17T01:34:47Z2015-02-17T01:34:47ZHow We Roll is our rundown of Mobile area Mardi Gras parades. Below is our recap of the Order of Mystic Magnolias parade, held in Fairhope on Feb. 16, 2015. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
How We Roll is our rundown of Mobile area Mardi Gras parades. Below is our recap of the Order of Mystic Magnolias parade, held in Fairhope on Feb. 16, 2015.
Phillip Carter wants to make Joe Cain Day an annual event because of the happy mood of strangerstag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.152246382015-02-16T00:15:44Z2015-02-16T00:15:44Z"It's such a family friendly event. The kids have never been, and we always felt safe. Never saw anything we didn't like." msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
"It's such a family friendly event. The kids have never been, and we always felt safe. Never saw anything we didn't like."
'People's Parade' proves why Joe Cain Day may very well be the most popular day of the Mardi Gras calendartag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.152244212015-02-16T00:00:00Z2015-02-16T00:00:00ZDespite early fears of frost, revelers along the downtown parade route were shedding long-sleeve shirts long before Ol' Slac started greeting the vast honorees of the "People's Parade." msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
Despite early fears of frost, revelers along the downtown parade route were shedding long-sleeve shirts long before Ol' Slac started greeting the vast honorees of the "People's Parade."
See how Joe Cain's Merry Widows kicked off the 2015 'People's Parade'tag:www.al.com,2015:/entertainment/index.ssf/2972.152233862015-02-15T19:40:53Z2015-02-15T19:40:53ZFor decades, Church Street Cemetery has been the epicenter of Joe Cain Day, and this year was no different.msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
For decades, Church Street Cemetery has been the epicenter of Joe Cain Day, and this year was no different.
Is the racial divide of Mardi Gras voluntary, and here to stay?tag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.152173262015-02-15T14:00:06Z2015-02-15T14:00:06ZSo a question that's been asked before deserves asking again. Is Mobile a segregated Carnival state, divided along a fault line that the three-century-old city likes to boast of being long past?msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
So a question that's been asked before deserves asking again. Is Mobile a segregated Carnival state, divided along a fault line that the three-century-old city likes to boast of being long past?
Vintage Joe Cain Day 'People's Parade' photos are in, and readers chronicled a wild time indeed over the yearstag:www.al.com,2015:/entertainment/index.ssf/2972.152220312015-02-15T13:00:13Z2015-02-15T13:00:13ZSuch was evident in the photos submitted by readers in recent weeks, chronicling the history of arguably the biggest and best day of Mardi Gras back to its heyday in the 1970s. Back then, folks weren't mainly on the outside of the barricades, but within them, and often in costume with homemade floats, to boot. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
Such was evident in the photos submitted by readers in recent weeks, chronicling the history of arguably the biggest and best day of Mardi Gras back to its heyday in the 1970s. Back then, folks weren't mainly on the outside of the barricades, but within them, and often in costume with homemade floats, to boot.
Nick Fairley acquitted on DUI charge, found guilty of less-serious reckless driving and fined $500 (updated)tag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.152079382015-02-13T20:18:13Z2015-02-13T20:18:13ZAfter a three-day trial, Nick Fairley was found guilty of reckless driving but acquitted of the more serious charge of driving under the influence. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
After a three-day trial, Nick Fairley was found guilty of reckless driving but acquitted of the more serious charge of driving under the influence.
Nick Fairley's fiancee refutes prosecution testimony in DUI trial as both sides rest; closing arguments tomorrowtag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.151995922015-02-12T22:53:13Z2015-02-12T22:53:13ZNick Fairley's fiancée testified on Thursday that the prosecution's key witness, an Alabama state trooper, was wrong about what happened the night he was arrested.msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
Nick Fairley's fiancée testified on Thursday that the prosecution's key witness, an Alabama state trooper, was wrong about what happened the night he was arrested.
Nick Fairley failed sobriety tests and admitted drinking and driving, prosecutor says during first day of DUI trial (updated)tag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.151907892015-02-12T00:12:54Z2015-02-12T00:12:54ZNick Fairley was headed to a Biloxi casino to keep his Memorial day party going when he was arrested for DUI, and admitted he shouldn't have been drinking and driving, a state trooper testified on Wednesday.msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
Nick Fairley was headed to a Biloxi casino to keep his Memorial day party going when he was arrested for DUI, and admitted he shouldn't have been drinking and driving, a state trooper testified on Wednesday.
NFL, Auburn star Nick Fairley to stand trial Wednesday for DUI, reckless drivingtag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.151853832015-02-11T14:50:44Z2015-02-11T14:50:44ZThe trial for alleged DUI and reckless driving is set to begin Wednesday for NFL defensive lineman Nick Fairley.msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
The trial for alleged DUI and reckless driving is set to begin Wednesday for NFL defensive lineman Nick Fairley.
City of Mobile, AL.com debut live Mardi Gras route camerastag:www.al.com,2015:/entertainment/index.ssf/2972.151419392015-02-05T22:52:40Z2015-02-05T22:52:40ZHere are the links to parade route web cams and video from downtown Mobile, courtesy of the city of Mobile and AL.com. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
Here are the links to parade route web cams and video from downtown Mobile, courtesy of the city of Mobile and AL.com.
Share your vintage Joe Cain Day photos, no matter how crazy, wacky and wondroustag:www.al.com,2015:/entertainment/index.ssf/2972.151377132015-02-05T15:14:39Z2015-02-05T15:14:39ZIn honor of the people of the "People's Parade," we'd like to see your photos from Joe Cain Processions past. No matter what the year, we'd like to see how you and yours celebrated Cain, or his be-feathered alter-ego, Chief Slacabamorinico. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
In honor of the people of the "People's Parade," we'd like to see your photos from Joe Cain Processions past. No matter what the year, we'd like to see how you and yours celebrated Cain, or his be-feathered alter-ego, Chief Slacabamorinico.
Watch prosecutor in DaKota Burke's murder case discuss preliminary hearing of child's accused killerstag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.151202362015-02-03T19:37:57Z2015-02-03T19:37:57ZThe video above is the reaction of Assistant District Attorney JoBeth Murphree to the testimony during the hearing of Summer Everett and Chrisopher Knapp, charged with murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of 20-month-old DaKota Burke. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
The video above is the reaction of Assistant District Attorney JoBeth Murphree to the testimony during the hearing of Summer Everett and Chrisopher Knapp, charged with murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of 20-month-old DaKota Burke.
DaKota Burke murder: Detective testimony offers timeline of alleged abuse leading to toddler's death (updated)tag:www.al.com,2015:/news/mobile/index.ssf/3673.151183822015-02-03T17:54:38Z2015-02-03T17:54:38Z"If a prisoner of war had been subjected to what this child went through, there would be an international investigation," Judge Bob Sherling said on Tuesday. msdumashttp://connect.al.com/user/msdumas/index.html
"If a prisoner of war had been subjected to what this child went through, there would be an international investigation," Judge Bob Sherling said on Tuesday.